FVR's sister appointed to MECO Board of Directors

MANILA, Philippines -- While her brother works backchannel talks as special envoy to China, former Sen. Leticia Ramos-Shahani took her oath on Monday as a member of the Board of Directors of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan.

 

Shahani, sister of former President Fidel Ramos, was among the 40 new appointees who took their oaths before President Rodrigo Duterte late Monday afternoon at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang.

 

The Philippines has a One-China policy but maintains an office in Taiwan.

 

While the matter of the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs was not in the appointees' portfolio, the president urged his team to support him in the campaign against corruption.

 

He said he was saddened that some government officials seemed to not have heeded his call to stop corruption after he received reports from entrepreneurs in Cagayan de Oro who complained of rampant corruption at the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

 

Apart from Shahani, Angelito Banayo was also sworn in as member and chairperson of MECO, along with Gilberto Flor Lauengco and Rommel Sytin, who were elected members of the board of directors.

 

Also present were National Youth Commission chairperson Cariza Yamson “Aiza” Seguerra and partner Mary Liza Dino, who took her oath as chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

 

Amable Aguiluz V, the president's special envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council and former Palawan Gov. Abraham Khalil Blanco Mitra, new chairperson of the Games and Amusement Board, also took their oaths of office.

 

Mitra said he was surprised that he was appointed to head GAB because he was initially supposed to be appointed to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), where former newsman Alvin Feliciano was appointed as TESDA deputy director.

 

Jose Maria Concepcion III of Go Negosyo was also sworn in as presidential consultant for entrepreneurship.

 

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri accompanied his father former Bukidnon Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri Jr, who was appointed as  chairperson of the Regional Development Council (Region X) of the National Economic and Development Authority.

 

Assistant Secretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik, a relative of  Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, was also sworn in as presidential legislative liason office III at the PLLO under the Office of the President.

 

A number of appointees from the departments of transportation, Civil Aviuation Authority of the Philippines, Bases Conversion Development Authority and the Philippine Ports Authority also joined the mass oath-taking ceremonies.